Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/561

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SILLIMAN
SILLIMAN
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ence," which he ('(inducted as sole editor until 1838, and as senior editor until 1S46, when he transferred the journal to his son and to James D. Dana. This journal is now the oldest scientific paper in the United States. Prof. Silliman edited three editions of William Henry's " Ele- ments of Chemistry " (Boston. 1808-'14), also three editions of Robert Bake well's " Introduction to Geology " (New Haven, 1829, 1833, and 1839), and was the author of Journals of Travels in England. Holland, and Scotland" (New York. 1810); "A Short Tour between Hartford and (Quebec in the Autumn of 1819" (1820); "Elements of Chemistry in the Order of Lectures given in Yale College " (2 vols.. New Have-i. 1830-'!); "Consistency of Discoveries of Modern Geology with the Sacred History of the Creation and Deluge" (London, 183?) ; and " Narrative of a Visit to Europe in 1851 " (2 vols., 1853). He was called by Edward Everett the " Nestor of American Science." Prof. Silliman was married twice. His first wife was Harriet Trumbull, the daughter of the second GOT. Jona- than Trumbull. One of his daughters married Prof. Oliver P. Hubbard, and another Prof. James D. Dana. A bronze statue of Prof. Silliraan was erected on the Yale grounds in front of Faruam college in 1884. See "Life of Benjamin Silliman." by George P. Fisher (2 vols.. New York, 1866). Benjamin's son. Ken jam i n. chemist, b. in New Haven. Conn., 4 Dec., 1816 : d. there. 14 Jan., 1885, was graduated at Yale in 1837, and at once became assistant, to his father, under whom he had served in a similar capacity during the explorations in the gold region of Virginia in 1830. Some of the lectures in the depart incuts nf chemistry, mineralogy, and geology were delivered by him. and he also devoted himself assiduously to the acquirement of a special knowledge of chemistry. In 1842 he fitted up at his own expense an apartment in the old laboratory of the college, where he received private pupils, notably John P. Norton and T. Sterry Hunt, and there he likewise conducted his earliest scientific researches. In 1846 he urged upon the corporation of Yale the foundation of a department for the study of advanced science, and in consequence the School of applied chemistry was organized, with himself as its professor of chemistry, without salary. The movement was successful, and in 1847 the Yale scientific school was formed on the basis of this beginning, which, since 1860. in recognition of the gifts of Joseph E. Sheffield, has borne his name. Prof. Silliman continued a member of the faculty of the scientific school until 1869. except during the years 1849-'54, when he held the chair of medical chemistry and toxicology in the medical department of the University of Louisville. Ky. In 1S54 lie was called to give instruction in the academic and medical departments of Yale, in consequence of the resignation of the elder Silliman. He held the chair of general and applied chemistry in the college until 1870, but retained the appointment in the medical department until his death. On the invitation of citizens of New Orleans, he delivered in 1M5-'0 what is believed to have been the first series of lectures on agricultural chemistry in the United States, and subsequently he gave popular lectures on scientific topics throughout the country. Prof. Silliman was a member of the common council of New Haven in 184o-'9. and one of the trustees of the Peabody museum of natural history. His sci- entific work included many investigations in min- eralogy, at first chierly from the chemical side, in- cluding researches on meteorites as well as studies in geology and physical optics. Later he turned his attention more to applied science, including the examination of mines and the preparation of reports cm questions connected with the chemical arts and manufactures: and he frequently ap- peared as an expert in the courts. In 1809 Prof. Silliman became one of the state chemists of Con- necticut, and in that capacity was employed as a scientific witness in the courts. The collection of minerals that he accumulated during his expedi- tions over the country was sold in 1868 to Cornell university, where it bears the name of the Silliman cabinet. The mineralogical collections of Yale are indebted to him for various gifts, and. through his personal solicitation of funds, the Baron Led- erer collection was secured in 1843 for the college. The honorary degree of M. D. was conferred on him by the University of South Carolina in 1849, and that of LL. D. by Jefferson medical college in 1884. Prof. Silliman was a member of many sci- entific societies, and was secretary of the Ameri- can association of geologists and naturalists in 1843-'4. He was named as one of the original members of the National academy of sciences by act of congress in 1863. and served on several of its most important committees, notably that ap- pointed in 1882 to report on the use of sorghum as a source of sugar. Prof. Silliman had charge of the chemical, mineralogical, and geological depart- ments of the World's fair that was held in New York during 1853, and at that time edited with Charles R. Goodrich " World of Science, Art, and Industry " (New York, 1853). and " The Progress of Science and MeelianiMii " (1854), in which the chief results of the great exhibition were recorded. In 1838-'45 Prof. Silliman became associated in the editorship of the " American Journal of Science," and with James D. Dana he was its editor from the latter year until his death. His scientific papers were nearly one hundred in number, of which over fifty were published in the " American Journal of Science," and they cover a wide range of topics. In addition, he published " First Principles of Chemistry " (Philadelphia, 1846; revised ed., 1856), of which more than 50.000 copies were sold; "Principles of Physics" (1858; revised ed., 1808); and "American Contributions to Chemistry" (1875). The second Gold Selleck's son. Benjamin Douglas, lawyer, b. in Newport, R. I., 14 Sept., 1805, was graduated at Y'ale in 1824, and then studied law with James Kent and his son, William Kent, until 1829. when he was admitted to the bar. He opened an office in New York during that year, and has since been steadily engaged in the practice of his profession in that city, with his residence in Brooklyn. He has often served as a delegate from Kings county to National and state conventions of the Whig and Republican parties, including the one at Harrisburg in 1839. at which William Henry Harrison was nominated for the presidency. He was elected to the legislature in 1838, and was nominated by the Whigs for congress in 1843, but failed of election, although he led the ticket of his party at the polls. In Is.VJ he received, but declined", the Whig nomination for the state senate. During the civil war lie was an earnest supporter of the government, and in March. 1865, he was appointed by President Lincoln U. S. attorney for the eastern district of New York. He held this office until September. 1866, and during that time argued in behalf of the government important questions that grew out of the civil war. In 1872 he was a member of the commission for revising the constitution of the state, and, as a chairman ot one committee and a member of others, took an active part in the proceedings of